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Richard Huntley
Richard Huntley
Richard Huntley
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Richard Earl Huntley (born September 18, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft.[1] He played six seasons for the Atlanta Falcons (1996), Pittsburgh Steelers (1998–2000), Carolina Panthers (2001), and Detroit Lions (2002). He played college football for the Winston-Salem State-Rams.

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Richard Huntley

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Richard Huntley is an American former professional football player known for his career as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 18, 1972, in Monroe, North Carolina, he attended Winston-Salem State University, where he excelled as a standout running back and later earned induction into the university's C.E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the CIAA Hall of Fame. Huntley was selected in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons and played six seasons in the league, also suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions. His professional career spanned from 1996 to 2002, during which he established himself as a reliable contributor in the backfield.

Early life

Birth and background

Richard Huntley was born on September 18, 1972, in Monroe, North Carolina. He attended Monroe High School in his hometown of Monroe, North Carolina. Huntley stands 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall. He later transitioned to college football at Winston-Salem State University.

College football career

Richard Huntley played college football as a running back for the Winston-Salem State University Rams from 1992 to 1995. He amassed 6,286 rushing yards over his four-year career, ranking among the leaders in NCAA Division II history at the time of his induction into the university's C.E. "Big House" Gaines Hall of Fame in 2004. Huntley rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons and became notable for recording two seasons with over 1,800 rushing yards in NCAA Division II. In his senior season of 1995, Huntley rushed for 1,889 yards while averaging 188.9 yards per game, both Division II records at the time, and earned Sheridan Broadcasting Systems All-America Offensive Player of the Year honors. He finished his collegiate career with 62 touchdowns, totaling 372 points to become the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's all-time leading scorer. Huntley's exceptional production as a rusher at Winston-Salem State positioned him for opportunities in the National Football League.

Professional football career

Entry into the NFL and Atlanta Falcons

Richard Huntley entered the NFL when he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft. As a running back wearing jersey number 33, he appeared in one game during his rookie season that year, without starting any contests. In his limited action with the Falcons in 1996, Huntley recorded two rushing attempts for eight yards (a 4.0 average) and caught one pass for 14 yards, with no touchdowns in either category. His single appearance came late in the season on December 22 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he accumulated those totals. Huntley was released by the Atlanta Falcons on April 18, 1997, concluding his tenure with the team after minimal on-field contributions in his initial NFL stint. This brief period with Atlanta represented his entry into professional football before he later joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1998.

Pittsburgh Steelers years

Richard Huntley played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998 to 2000, serving as a backup running back throughout his tenure with the team. He appeared in all 16 games in both 1998 and 1999, starting one in 1998 and two in 1999, then played in 13 games in 2000. In 1998, Huntley recorded 55 rushing attempts for 242 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with a long of 48 yards. His contributions came primarily as a reserve behind the established backfield. In 1999, he rushed 93 times for 567 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, while also catching 27 passes for 253 yards and 3 touchdowns. That season included a standout receiving performance where he gained a career-high 67 receiving yards in a 43-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns on September 12. In 2000, Huntley carried the ball 46 times for 215 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry with a long of 30 yards, and scored three rushing touchdowns. He had a notable game against the Washington Redskins on December 16, rushing for two touchdowns in a 24-3 win. Across his three seasons with Pittsburgh, Huntley provided reliable backup support and occasional starting contributions in the backfield.

Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions

After concluding his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Richard Huntley signed with the Carolina Panthers for the 2001 season. During his lone year with Carolina, he appeared in 14 games with 9 starts as a running back and recorded 165 rushing attempts for 665 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also contributed as a receiver with 21 catches for 101 yards and 1 touchdown. Huntley then joined the Detroit Lions in 2002, appearing in 3 games with 1 start. His offensive role was minimal, as he carried the ball 3 times for 4 yards with no receptions or touchdowns. This brief stint marked the end of his NFL playing career.

Television appearances

Appearances as self in NFL broadcasts

Richard Huntley was credited as himself in numerous NFL game broadcasts during his active playing career, appearing in pre-game shows, halftime features, and related segments on network television. These were non-acting roles in real-life sports programming, where he was featured as a current player for his respective teams. He appeared in 13 episodes of The NFL on CBS from 1998 to 2001, primarily as a Pittsburgh Steelers running back or fullback and later as a Carolina Panthers running back. He also featured in 8 episodes of NFL on FOX from 1999 to 2002 as a running back or fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions. Additional broadcast credits include 4 episodes of ESPN's Sunday Night Football from 1999 to 2001, where he appeared as a Pittsburgh Steelers or Carolina Panthers running back, and 1 episode of NFL Monday Night Football in 1999 as a Pittsburgh Steelers running back. Huntley was also included via archive footage in two Pittsburgh Steelers-related documentaries: as a Steelers player (archive footage, uncredited) in the 2005 video Steelers: The Complete History and as himself (archive footage) in the 1999 video Season on the Edge: The Story of the 1998 Pittsburgh Steelers. All of these appearances were directly connected to his on-field role and team affiliations during his NFL tenure.

Legacy and honors

Post-retirement activities

Following his retirement from the NFL after the 2002 season with the Detroit Lions, Richard Huntley settled in the Charlotte, North Carolina area where he has remained since. He owns a personal training and fitness company in Charlotte and has worked closely with athletes as a conditioning coach. Huntley has also coached high school football, an activity he described as a meaningful way to return to teaching the sport and guiding young players to pursue opportunities, drawing from his own experiences. He has emphasized direct coaching methods and mentoring, stating his preference for continuing to work with youth in that capacity alongside his training work. He remains an active member of the Carolina Panthers Legends community, participating in the team's charitable events and assisting rookies with their transition to professional football.

Black College Football Hall of Fame induction

Richard Huntley was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024 for his distinguished career as a running back at Winston-Salem State University. This honor recognizes his impact on historically Black colleges and universities football, where he excelled during his four seasons with the Rams. Huntley's induction highlights his consistent performance, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his four college seasons at Winston-Salem State University. He was one of seven members selected for the Class of 2024 by a committee of journalists, historians, former NFL executives, and Hall of Fame members. The enshrinement ceremony occurred on June 8, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, presented by the Atlanta Falcons. Class members were also recognized at halftime of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 24, 2024, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.

Career statistics summary

Richard Huntley enjoyed a standout college football career at Winston-Salem State University from 1992 to 1995, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons and finishing with a total of 6,286 rushing yards. He scored 62 touchdowns during that span and led the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in career points with 372. In the NFL, Huntley appeared in 63 regular-season games across six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (1996), Pittsburgh Steelers (1998–2000), Carolina Panthers (2001), and Detroit Lions (2002), compiling 364 rushing attempts for 1,701 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and added 62 receptions for 477 yards with 4 receiving touchdowns.
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